Francis Ngannou tragically loses 18-month-old son, MMA world mourns

Francis Ngannou suffered a parent’s worst nightmare.

On Monday, Cameroonian news outlet 237 Online reported that Ngannou’s 18-month old son Kobe passed away. While the exact circumstances of the tragedy are still unknown, sources with MMA Fighting confirmed the news. Ngannou has not publicly spoken on the matter, but did post to social media conveying his grief.

Ngannou’s head coach Eric Nicksick and manager Marquel Martin also took to social media to share their condolences with their fighter.

“It’s been a heavy few days, words can’t express the pain we all feel for the Ngannou family during this time. Please keep Francis and his family in your heart, and may this be a reminder of the fragility of life. Say “I love you,” more often, tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.”

“Please respect Francis Ngannou and his family during this traumatic time. I along with millions others will be praying for their strength. #perspective #WhatReallyMatters”

The former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou was one of the biggest stories in combat sports this past year as he transitioned to boxing to great success. “The Predator” nearly upset lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in his professional debut, even knocking the undefeated boxer down during their 10-round fight. His sophomore outing was less successful, as Ngannou was knocked out by Anthony Joshua in their second round of their fight in March.

Ngannou’s efforts in MMA and in boxing have made him a beloved figure in combat sports, and faced with such tragedy, the MMA world mourned the terrible news along with him on Monday.

Damon Martin contributed to this report.